I’ve never met a cat who understands any sort of economics. They won’t even trade a dead mouse for a piece of tasty ham.
My female Siamese (spayed) used to grab my husband’s arm or hand when he headed out the door. She DID NOT want him to leave. She was an only cat at the time, and even clingier than Siamese normally are. We got another two cats, and now she is not nearly as clingy. Of course, being a meezer, she’s still very much a drama queen…